Families planning an October visit to the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens can attend its Zoo Boo Bash on three weekends, with Halloween activities and costumed character appearances at the Sanford zoo.
As WFTV reports, the event is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 17-18, Oct. 24-25 and Oct. 31, 2026. Activities are included with regular zoo admission; annual pass holders can attend for $5 per person named on the pass.
What Visitors Can Expect
WFTV reports that the zoo plans trick-or-treat stations, seasonal decorations and special animal enrichment activities during the event. The Halloween programming is intended for guests of all ages.
Costumed character appearances are scheduled to change by weekend, giving families a chance to choose a visit based on the lineup.
The Weekend-by-Weekend Lineup
On Oct. 17, Captain America, Spider-Man and Black Widow are scheduled to appear. The Oct. 24 lineup features Anna, Elsa and Kristoff.
The final date, Oct. 31, brings the Sanderson sisters to the zoo. Visitors can plan around the characters they want to see while also visiting the zoo’s exhibits.
Getting to Know the Sanford Zoo
Seminole County’s 2045 Transportation Mobility Plan describes LYNX as providing daily fixed- and flex-route service throughout the county and lists a transit center in Sanford. The plan does not confirm a direct transit connection to the zoo. The Orlando Sentinel reported that the zoo began in downtown Sanford in the 1930s and moved to its current location off U.S. Highway 17-92 in 1975.
